Hey, big spenders

U.S. SEN. MARIA CANTWELL became Seattle's most celebrated self-funded candidate when her RealNetworks wealth allowed her to pump some $9.2 million into her successful $11.5 million campaign to dump incumbent Slade Gorton. While Seattle city races haven't seen the likes of Cantwell or presidential self-funders Ross Perot and Steve Forbes (who threw away $63 million and $37.4 million, respectively, on their ego-driven presidential campaigns), there are a few would-be local politicians who know how to write a check. According to the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission, donations from candidates to their own campaigns made up about 9 percent of city-race war chests in 1997 and about 9.3 percent in 1999. The following candidates are the top self-funders in city races since 1995 (with campaigns raising less than $20,000 exempted).